Come on in. Have a seat and relax. Listen to a story of how God is meeting men through The Journey and taking them to new heights. We are truly part of something special that God is doing, and we need to tell the stories. "Every man has a story and every story is worth hearing." In addition to the Influencers Weekly Devotional, you will receive a "Story of Influence" each week. Be encouraged. If you would like to submit a story, email it to
[email protected].
Joe was dying of liver failure. He was suffering from Hepatitis, and after two liver transplants, his third liver was being eaten by the disease. His good friend was going through The Journey with a group of men. This Journey brother shared his concern for Joe during one of their meetings, and God moved these men of God into action. They gathered around the dying man, spoke encouragement into his life and prayed for him. One of them felt lead to share with Joe the story of King Hezekiah, who was given a death sentence, but after crying out to God, was granted 15 more years to live. This was around November, and Joe was not expected to make it through Christmas. Another Journey brother told Joe, “You’re going to go through The Journey with me next year!” Joe smiled and hoped this might be possible.
The next few months passed, and Joe’s failing liver stabilized. He made it through the Christmas season and became healthy enough to join The Journey the following year. Joe was new to the things of faith. He was an ex-Marine, who had been a strong, handsome, exuberant young man. Now, weakened by the extensive string of surgeries and hospital stays, this frail little man was forced to lean on the strength of the Lord. In the midst of this fight for his life, Joe emitted a glow that was unmistakably from God. He went on The Journey with a group of men, not sure if each Journey session might be his last. He had no idea what an impact he had on those around him.
As Joe sought to grow closer to Jesus, he was a constant reminder of our dependency on God and the fragility of life. His Journey brothers grew to love him, and they laid their lives down for him. There were many more prayer sessions, as men were carrying Joe to Jesus’ feet, asking for healing. These prayer times with Joe began an entire ministry, as some of these Journey guys began going on “prayer missions” to pray for others in need. Joe joined the men on one mission as they prayed over a woman dying of ALS. She appreciated the prayers and the counseling of the men, but she paid close attention when Joe spoke. Of all those in the room, only Joe understood what it was like to face death. Joe truly was a walking miracle. He was already on borrowed time, and it was almost as if God just wanted him to complete The Journey before heading home.
As the year progressed, the liver failure returned and Joe was in and out of the hospital. Joe’s wife, Stacy, was surprised to meet all these men who had such a love and concern for her husband. They weren’t just casual visitors to the hospital. These men would sit by Joe’s bedside for hours, wanting to give Stacy much-needed breaks. They would laugh with Joe, cry with him, read him Scriptures, pray with him or just stand guard like a fellow soldier watching over a man who was down.
At one moment, much like when Paul was caught up to heaven, Joe looked out his hospital window and commented on the bus which was waiting for him. It seemed clear that his time on earth was short. Joe began to process all of the God-sightings in his life. He remembered a time, during one of his hospital stays, when Jesus literally picked him up out of his hospital bed and held him in His arms. The moment was so vivid that Joe had drawn a picture of Jesus’ face.
The interesting thing is that these Journey brothers, who were ministering to Joe in the best way they knew how, felt like they were sitting by Jesus’ bedside. The love they felt for Joe reinforced the love they felt for the Father and the love He had for them. It was a blessed expression of The Journey, way beyond anything that could be contained in a curriculum. All of these Journey brothers were treated to the most unique Journey experience ever. This was the real life that Christ meant for us to experience as we abide in Him and as we love one another.
Joe never made it to the Journey Commencement weekend, but he graduated to the final Journey. He took his last breath on earth while his wife and Journey brothers were nearby. The ministry that Joe’s family experienced from The Journey was so powerful that many of the men were asked to be Joe’s pallbearers. We are all on this Journey if only for a little while, until our bus pulls up to the window. Oh that we might give ourselves to the Lord and to the people He brings across our Journey. This is the fruit that lasts…forever.
